National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

Submission 2990

A decrease in funding for community participation and respite supports for my 16-year-old son, who has a syndrome associated with significant intellectual disability and requires supervision, care, and support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, will be detrimental to him, myself and his siblings.

Community participation is essential for my son’s social inclusion, skill development, independence, emotional wellbeing, and quality of life. Regular access to community activities allows him to engage with others, build confidence, and participate in meaningful experiences that would otherwise be unavailable to him due to his disability.

In addition, respite and support worker funding are critical tomaintaining the long term caring arrangements for my son. As my sonsprimary and only carer, I am experiencing severe carer burnout due tothe constant demands of providing care and supervision and my healthis failing.

Currently, available funding is only sufficient to allow me to attendessential medical appointments for myself and to assist my elderly fatherwith his medical appointments. I am unable to undertake basic activitiesthat support my own health and wellbeing, such as going for a walkalone, unless I organise support well in advance, which I’m sure mostpeople could not imagine having to do. The significant strain on myphysical and mental health will affect my ability to continue in mycaring role long term, and my son will end up in 24/7 care, which will cost far more than providing access to sufficientscommunity access funding andrespite.

I respectfully request that the government reconsider the impact ofthese proposed cuts on those who most need support, and direct the costcuts elsewhere